SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas –
Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio recently participated as a sponsor at the United States Lifeguard Association National Lifeguard Competition held in South Padre Island from Aug. 7-9, 2024. The events display a lifeguard’s commitment to fitness, teamwork and sense of duty – key qualities in both lifeguarding and naval service.
With the Navy being a sponsor of the competition’s landline open water rescue event, Petty Officers 1st Class Reuben Castro, Raul Beltran and Hector Reyes aimed to raise awareness about the opportunities available within the Navy’s Warrior Challenge Program.
The Navy’s Special Operations teams include roles such as Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman, Navy Divers, Aviation Rescue Swimmers, Hospital Corpsman Advanced Technical Field, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians. These jobs require individuals with exceptional physical endurance, mental resilience and quick, decision-making abilities – traits that are also vital in being a lifeguard.
“It was an honor to be a Navy Warrior Challenge Program sponsor … watching these incredible athletes in action was truly inspiring,” Castro said. “The connection between lifeguards and the Navy’s special warfare operators is undeniable - both are out there in some of the toughest conditions making split-second decisions to save lives.”
The Navy’s pull-up bar attracted some of the most skilled lifeguards from across the country. When the recruiters started posting the leaderboard names, the pull-up bar became an unofficial event within the event.
It also provided an excellent platform for the Warrior Challenge recruiters to engage with young, athletic individuals who possess the physical and mental attributes that align with the demands of the Navy’s special operations community. Recruiters gave out Warrior Challenge t-shirts when the participant successfully completed a minimum of 15 weighted or unweighted pull-ups.
“The Navy’s presence not only supported the lifeguard community but also inspired them to recognize the shared responsibility of saving lives,” Reyes said.
The sponsorship highlighted NTAG San Antonio’s support for community events that encourage people to push their limits and strive for excellence. The presence of the recruiters at the competition also allowed the participants to learn more about the Navy’s elite programs.
NTAG San Antonio’s area of responsibility includes more than 30 Navy Enlisted and Officer Recruiting Stations spread throughout 144,000 square miles of Central and South Texas territory.
For those interested in the Navy, contact a local recruiter by calling 1-800-USA-NAVY, visiting www.navy.com, www.cnrc.navy.mil/San-Antonio/ , https://www.navy.com/careers-benefits/careers/special-operations or follow us at http://www.facebook.com/NtagSanAntonio, www.instagram.com/ntag.sanantonio, https://x.com/NtagSanAntonio, https://www.linkedin.com/company/navy-talent-acquisition-group-san-antonio/ and https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1uxs-z2tnVl-l4xr2eha3A.